Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Employment Advisor

The closing date is 24 October 2025

Job summary

We are looking for a number of Employment Advisors to join the team to be part of the exciting expansion of the highly successful Employment Advisors in Talking Therapies Programme across Lancashire (previously IAPT).

This role is currently fixed term until March 2026 with potential to be extended. The programme was created to offer suitable employment support for those accessing the Talking Therapies service, promoting the link between being in work and achieving improved mental health outcomes

Main duties of the job

This role is part of an employment advice service, working closely with clinicians working to provide psychological therapies to people with common mental health problems. The post holders will support service users with common mental health problems to gain, return to or retain employment. The role will involve working directly with Jobcentre Plus, employers, trade unions and employment agencies to keep people in employment and secure employment opportunities.

To provide Psychologically informed advice to service users.

To work closely with Step Two and Step Three workers within NHS TALKING THERAPIES

To be co-located within all the LSCFT NHS TALKING THERAPIES Teams

To offer appropriate advice taking into account the physical and psychological clinical needs of individuals

About us

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing.

We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview

Date posted

10 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year Per Annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

5 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

351-CEN2329-CL

Job locations

Preston, Central & West and Pennine

Preston

PR5 6AW

Job description

Job responsibilities

Information on the programme can be found on www.gov.uk using the following link: Employment advisers in improving access to psychological therapies - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Information on the programme can be found on www.gov.uk using the following link: Employment advisers in improving access to psychological therapies - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Person Specification

Education

Essential

Degree in a related field (e.g. psychology, occupational therapy, human resources) or Equivalent knowledge acquired through experience (e.g. as an employment advisor, mental health practitioner or health and social care practitioner

Knowledge

Essential

Knowledge of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)
Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the employment of people with disabilities and mental health problems
Knowledge of the obstacles to employment that people who experience mental health problems can face
Knowledge of the relevant legislation about the work place and disability and the disclosure of information about health problems
Knowledge of the range of employment interventions relevant for people with employment needs and a mental health problem including; advice on the range of employment support services, specific interventions to support job seeking, work place based interventions and advice training and support for employers and IAPT staff

Experience

Essential

Understanding of the employment needs, barriers and difficulties faced by people with MH conditions, for example how agoraphobia can impact work
Ability to negotiate with employers on behalf of clients

Person Specification

Education

Essential

Degree in a related field (e.g. psychology, occupational therapy, human resources) or Equivalent knowledge acquired through experience (e.g. as an employment advisor, mental health practitioner or health and social care practitioner

Knowledge

Essential

Knowledge of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)
Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the employment of people with disabilities and mental health problems
Knowledge of the obstacles to employment that people who experience mental health problems can face
Knowledge of the relevant legislation about the work place and disability and the disclosure of information about health problems
Knowledge of the range of employment interventions relevant for people with employment needs and a mental health problem including; advice on the range of employment support services, specific interventions to support job seeking, work place based interventions and advice training and support for employers and IAPT staff

Experience

Essential

Understanding of the employment needs, barriers and difficulties faced by people with MH conditions, for example how agoraphobia can impact work
Ability to negotiate with employers on behalf of clients

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Preston, Central & West and Pennine

Preston

PR5 6AW

Employer's website

https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Preston, Central & West and Pennine

Preston

PR5 6AW

Employer's website

https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)